This issue's tricks are from Chris Bauer at Bauer Hardwood Flooring in Sacramento, Calif.
I was doing some community work helping a friend fix up a church where he is a pastor. There were no repairs, and I really did not want to bring in my compressor, hose and air gun just to clean the belt sander's upper roller. I brainstormed a little and happened to be at the 99-cent store. I saw the air duster can for $1.99 and decided to give it a try. It got the job done! I think a bigger spray can from an electronics store would probably even be better.
Another thing I find useful from the dollar store is a metal skewer for shish kabobs. I find the drum on my belt sander gets filled with dust on one side. The skewer bends to the shape you want and helps work a lot of the packed-in dust out. I just put the sander up on its included attached dolly, take the sandpaper belt off, then lay down next to the drum and clean it instead of laying the sander on its side.
